Dive into Science Program Updates and Successes

By Morgan Murphy-Cannella, Director of Education

Reef Check’s Dive into Science Program is gaining momentum with a string of great successes taking place this season! Several cohorts have completed their Open Water and Advanced dive courses, earning their respective certifications and expanding their marine science knowledge along the way. Keep reading for updates on the Northern California Tribal program and those involving the Coastal Chumash and Tongva communities, the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation, and Los Angeles and Antelope Valley foster youth.

Northern California Tribal program

This year we successfully completed three Open Water and two Advanced cohorts, marking significant milestones in our ongoing efforts to provide SCUBA certification and marine education to Indigenous communities in northern California. The participants in this program represent a rich tapestry of heritage, coming from the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Kashia Band of Pomo Indians, Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, Yurok Tribe, Yokayo Tribe, and Pinoleville Pomo Nation.

Our program’s impact extends beyond their initial certification. Several members of Kashia Band of Pomo Indians from our first cohort have taken their scuba education to the next level by completing Rescue Diver and American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) Scientific Diver certifications at the UC Davis Bodega Bay Marine Laboratory. We are excited they have taken what they learned in Dive into Science and expanded on it by becoming scientific divers. Esther Stra and Ely Scott, two Environmental Technicians from Kashia Band of Pomo Indians, will use their AAUS certification for work on kelp and abalone restoration projects along the Sonoma Coast for their Tribe. This certification enables them to steward the ocean and aid in the restoration of their Tribe’s most culturally significant species, the red abalone. This early success of the program serves as a strong motivator for following cohorts that are working towards their scientific diving certification.

This program has been made possible thanks to the generous support of the Coastal Conservancy’s Explore the Coast grant. Their funding has been instrumental in providing these transformative experiences, enabling us to foster a deeper connection between Indigenous youth and their coastal heritage while promoting environmental stewardship.

Coastal Chumash and Tongva Communities

This program has achieved remarkable success, having certified two cohorts of Coastal Chumash and Tongva community youth. Each cohort had the unique opportunity to travel to Pimu (Catalina Island) and complete the first phase of the program at the Catalina Island Marine Institute (CIMI). During this phase, participants earned their Open Water certification while diving in the clear waters surrounding Pimu Island, immersing themselves in the island’s rich marine environment. Special recognition and thanks go out to CIMI for their invaluable support and partnership in making this program a reality. We are particularly proud of our second cohort, which was comprised of all women and non-binary participants, as they all completed their certification and are eager to continue to dive. This program will offer further opportunities in the upcoming months. Students will hone their skills and continue to deepen their engagement with the marine environment during additional scuba dives and during their Advanced scuba training.

Looking further ahead, the program will expand to include Rescue Diver training, Reef Check Kelp Forest Monitoring, and participation in the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) programs next year. 

This program would not have been possible without the generous support of the California Natural Resources Agency Youth Community Access Program. Their funding has been crucial in enabling us to provide these life-changing experiences to the youth of the Coastal Chumash and Tongva communities.

Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation

We are thrilled to announce the commencement of the Ghvtl shu’-srnelh-‘i: Kelp Guardian project in collaboration with the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation (TDN or the Nation). This program is set to achieve its first significant milestones this fall with the successful completion of Open Water scuba certification of all participants. Lectures and pool sessions have started and open water dives are scheduled for the coming weeks.

The primary goals of the Kelp Guardian project are twofold: to provide scuba training and citizen science education that will enhance the capacity of TDN Natural Resources staff, and to empower them to effectively monitor their ancestral coastal territory. By integrating traditional ecological knowledge with modern scientific methods, this program aims to develop a ghvtlh-k’vsh (kelp) monitoring program that is both culturally meaningful and scientifically robust, tailored specifically to the unique environmental conditions of TDN ancestral lands.

This course will take place in and around the Crescent City area and along the Smith River, locations that hold deep significance for the Tolowa Dee-ni’ people. By training TDN staff in scuba and citizen science, we hope to equip them with additional tools needed to actively engage in the stewardship of these vital marine ecosystems. This program is funded by California Sea Grant.

Los Angeles and Antelope Valley Foster Youth

This year, our Los Angeles and Antelope Valley foster youth program reached a significant milestone as participants completed their Advanced SCUBA course in the clear waters of the Channel Islands. This experience provided invaluable opportunities for participants of this cohort to dive from a boat and explore Marine Protected Areas, allowing them to witness firsthand the beauty and biodiversity of these critical marine environments. 

Building on this success, we are excited to announce that two more cohorts are scheduled to begin their Skin Diver certification soon. These courses serve as an essential foundation, preparing participants for the Open Water certification by familiarizing them with basic snorkeling and breath-hold diving skills. This progression not only builds their confidence in the water but also lays the groundwork for their continued scuba training.

To further enhance their marine knowledge and foster a deeper connection with the ocean, we are taking field trips to the Heal the Bay Aquarium. These excursions will provide the youth with interactive learning experiences where they can explore marine life up close and gain a better understanding of the importance of ocean conservation. This program is funded by the Outdoor Equity Grants Program, created through AB 209 and administered by California State Parks, Office of Grants and Local Services.